Always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

First Thessalonians, Chapter 5, verse 15.

Welcome to this daily encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Being a blessing was written by Lisa M. Samra and read by Tony Collier.

First, Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 15 through 18.

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other

and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks

in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Being a blessing, written

by Lisa M. Samra. During a heated game between two long-standing local high school soccer rivals,

the Eagles and the pioneers, the Eagles kicked the ball into the goal.

The ball went into the net, but exited the back of the net through a hole.

The referee didn't see the ball enter the goal,

and seeing the ball outside the net ruled it was not a hole. The referee didn't see the ball enter the goal, and seeing the ball

outside the net ruled it was not a score. The Pioneers coach saw the goal and voluntarily

confirmed the Eagle coach's claim, even though he could have remained silent. The referee counted

the goal. The pioneers lost the game three to two. While it's easy to speak up

when it's for our benefit, the Bible encourages believers in Jesus to always strive to do what is good

for each other and for everyone else. Going beyond our normal inclination to do good for our friends, the difficult aspect of this

command is working to do good for even our rivals without benefiting from our actions or

expecting to get anything back in return. Doing good for a rival or competitor may mean speaking

up for a co-worker's effort to complete a sale,

even if that means she might get the bigger bonus. Doing good might mean raking a neighbor's leaves,

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